Summary of a presentation given by Dr. Paul Ranalli on "Pain, Fetal
Development, and Partial-birth abortion" on June 27, 1997. (I personally
attended this presentation). Related links are included below.
The fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. This is probably a conservatively
late estimate, but it is scientifically solid. Elements of the
pain-conveying system (spino-thalamic system) begin to be assembled at 7
weeks; enough development has occurred by 12-14 weeks that some pain
perception is likely, and continues to build through the second trimester.
By 20 weeks, the spino- thalamic system is fully established and connected.
There are three different indicators providing evidence that the fetus
feels pain.
- Anatomical
- pain receptors spread over the body in stages: 8-16 weeks
- pain impulse connections in the spinal cord link up and reach the
thalamus (the brain's reception center): 7-20 weeks (summarized by Anand,
K.J.S., Atlanta)
- Physiological/Hormonal
- fetuses withdraw from painful stimulation
- two types of stress hormones, normally released by adults
subjected to
pain, are released by adults subjected to pain, are releases in massive
amounts by the fetus subjected to a needle puncture to draw a blood
sample:
(a) from 19 weeks onward (N. Fisk; London, England)
(b) from 16 weeks onward (J. Partch; Kiel, Germany)
- Behavioral
- withdraw from pain
- change in vital signs
A 20-30 week old fetus actually will feel more pain than an adult. The
period between 20-30 weeks is a uniquely vulnerable time, since the pain
system is fully established, yet the higher level pain-modifying system
has barely begun to develop.
Below is a graphical represenation depicting this mis-match in pain
detection and pain modification
Dr. Paul Ranalli is a neurologist at the University of Toronto and
acting
president of the de Veber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research.
He is also Vice-President of
Canadian Physicians For Life
Additional Information
In testimony before the House Constitution Subcommittee, Professor Robert
White confirmed that the 'fetus within this time frame of gestation, 20
weeks and beyond, is fully capable of experiencing pain.... Without
question, all of this is a dreadfully painful experience for
any infant subjected to such a surgical procedure."
